"Although you can usually tell if your child's caught a stomach bug -- she'll have vomiting or diarrhea that lasts 24 to 48 hours -- you should know these other common causes of tummy trouble, and how you can help her feel better.

What it feels like: Cramping and uncomfortable bloating are the usual symptoms.

What's going on: If your child has gone for two or more days without pooping, you can reasonably assume that constipation is causing her stomachache. In fact, constipation causes almost half of all acute abdominal pain in kids, according to a recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics. But even if she does go to the bathroom regularly, she could still be constipated. "Some kids will tell you they have a bowel movement every day, but they're not eliminating everything from their colon properly," says Dan Thomas, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Gas is produced when food (especially sugar) is broken down by bacteria in the large intestine. This is a normal process, but some kids develop more gas than others. If your child is lactose intolerant, eating dairy products will cause painful gas."

The physicians at The Children's Clinic are pleased to announce our association with Amanda Braswell, CPNP. Mandy is a pediatric nurse practitioner with 8 years practicing with the Jackson Madison County Schools Health Clinic. She is now serving the pediatric population and their families along with us at 264 Coatsland Dr in Jackson, TN. She will be a wonderful asset to our clinic family.

"Turkey, a Thanksgiving staple so ubiquitous it has become all but synonymous with the holiday, may or may not have been on offer when the Pilgrims hosted the inaugural feast in 1621. Today, however, nearly 90 percent of Americans eat the bird—whether roasted, baked or deep-fried—on Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation. Other traditional foods include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Volunteering is a common Thanksgiving Day activity, and communities often hold food drives and host free dinners for the less fortunate.

Parades have also become an integral part of the holiday in cities and towns across the United States. Presented by Macy’s department store since 1924, New York City’s Thanksgiving Day parade is the largest and most famous, attracting some 2 to 3 million spectators along its 2.5-mile route and drawing an enormous television audience. It typically features marching bands, performers, elaborate floats conveying various celebrities and giant balloons shaped like cartoon characters."

Dr. Blake, originally from Start City, Ark., attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he obtained his bachelor’s in Biology. He attended the University of Arkansas College of Medicine in Little Rock, and received his Medical degree in 1996. He completed his pediatric residency at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, also in Little Rock. He is board certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Blake joined the Children's Clinic Professional Association in 1999 and has been on active staff at Jackson Madison County General Hospital since then.

In 2006, he received the Readers’ Choice Award for the best Pediatrician. His special interests are Adolescent Medicine and Congenital Heart Disease.

Dr. Self is originally from Hartsville, Tenn. She attended MTSU, and has a bachelor’s in both Biology and Psychology. She attended ETSU-Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tenn., and received her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 1991. She completed two internships, psychiatry and pediatrics, and her pediatric residency at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Ga. Her special area of interest is neonatology. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is on active staff at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Dr. Self joined the Children's Clinic Professional Association in 1995.

She was named the Jackson Sun’s Readers Choice Best Pediatrician in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007.